Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

John_3:16

Lag pipes to rads under floor boards ( I was doing some work under floor and found how coldit was, I was heating space I never used. Lag hot pipes to sinks )if possible lag bath with old blankets bubble rap keeps the heat in and stops drafts Use timers on heating wisely and change weekly when needed.. If on E7 then use fan heaters in the morning instead of heating whole house. Use electric showers in morning before 8. Boil kettle on E7 and get a big flask to fill for drinks in the day. I see you can get a new type on electric heating ring that only heats the pan that makes contact with it. Not sure if this is cheaper to run. Cold feet get a electric slipper they are quite good. Get good pans and use less water to cook veg. When cooking rice and paster turn off early and let the heat in the water carry on cooking the rice etc. Cook double if not more and freeze for another meal. you are not cooking twice.

Raffles_3

Get up early in the morning while the ecomony 7 is still on and do any work then that involves using electric appliances.
The radio is cheaper than a television, and it is cheaper still if you can wind it up.
Vacuum flasks are not just for picnics. Heat your water, make your tea, coffee, cocoa in the morning during economy 7 and fill your flasks.
Wear a woolly hat.
Go out and visit more people in the evening. Let them pay to keep you warm.
The public library has central heating, and you are paying for it.
Keep warm like a student and get yourself a nice warm sleeping bag.
Keep warm like a Victorian and wear a dressing gown or a smoking jacket.

mah_jong

Unfortuantly I have Reynauds and unless the room temprature is OK I get cold very quickly. Makes no odds how many layers I put on! Or covers on my bed! My body knows even then when the heating is about to go (can tell if the temprature is going down!) and when it goes on even if I cant hear it I can feel it!

To add to this I live in a much cooler part of the UK than most of you!

So though I use energy saving bulbs,turn this of and that off...the biggest user of energy (heating) will continue to eat up the dosh!

BrandNewDay

*zippy* wrote:

I used to be so tight with the heating, pre double glazing we used to have ice on the inside of the windows in the morning. We used the cling film stuff on the bedroom windows to stop draughts it was helpful.

You know, in the States, I saw a lot of people just putting up this heavy plastic - not cling film - over all the windows. Sort of over the frame, not touching the panes. I'm not sure how they fastened it, either. But, it does keep the heat it/cold out.

A friend of mine hung what was basically a long shower curtain in his front hall, after the front door, to keep the cold wind from blasting in when he opened the door. I believe he put small fishing weights in the bottom to keep it from billowing around. I'm not sure if it would fit most people's ideas of nice decor, but it did help with what was a very drafty, cold house.

Aril

Think most things have already been covered but the following spring to mind:
Lag the pipes going from the tank in your airing cupboard with bubble wrap. Fingerless gloves are good for the evening aswell as it means I can still sew.
During the winter I put a sleeping bag on top of the small person's mattress under his sheet.
Aril

black-saturn

Put a pillow at the bottom of the bed. It stops the cold from getting in the bottom of the bed.

Cook all your vegetables in one saucepan instead of several.

Shower instead of bath.

flower_chops

Me and OH have decided that come the cold months we'll buy a new (cheap) duvet for dragging onto the sofa...cuddles will keep us warm!

Also going to make loads of soup!

twink

i am keeping an eye out for slippers i saw in asda last winter, but i dithered about buying them and missed out, they looked like pink 3/4 length boots, sheepskin lined but a lot lighter than a boot, just the thing for my cold feet

Madmel

Similar to Aril's post, but if you put a fleecy blanket under your sheet, you won't need as many layers on top of you to keep warm at night. It sounds bonkers, but is true

Raffles_3

BrandNewDay wrote:

You know, in the States, I saw a lot of people just putting up this heavy plastic - not cling film - over all the windows. Sort of over the frame, not touching the panes. I'm not sure how they fastened it, either. But, it does keep the heat it/cold out.

I don't know if you are old enough to remember that in Britain about 20 years ago we had these things. You put them on with double sided sellotape, and smoothed out the creases with a hair dryer.

If you do not have double glazing, you can cut down heat loss out the window by fitting internal shutters. I do not know if you can still get thermal shutters. I have not heard of them for years. They were supposed to be more effective than double glazing, but only of course when they were closed.